PARKER AND RUIZ READY TO ROCK AUCKLAND
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 09 Dec 2016
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND ? It doesn?t get any better than this.
Two unbeaten hard hitting heavyweights clash for the vacant WBO heavyweight world title this Saturday at the Vector Arena in New Zealand.
Auckland?s favorite son Joseph Parker (21W-0L,18KO?s) will have the weight of an entire nation?s expectations on his shoulders when he faces Andy Ruiz (29W-0L,19KO?s) of California, USA. The 24 year old Parker stepped on the scales at 246.75 lbs while the 27 year old Ruiz was at 255.75 lbs.
A win by either fighter will enter their name in the record books. Ruiz is of Mexican heritage. John Ruiz was the first Latino-American to win a portion of the heavyweight title in 2001. The New Zealander Parker is of Samoan descent. The last New Zealander/Samoan heavyweight who created a stir in the boxing world was David Tua, who lost in his bid to unseat Lennox Lewis 16 years ago.
There will be three regional bouts on the undercards:
Shannon O?Connell (Australia) and Laura Soledad Griffa (Agentina) will battle for the vacant WBO female Asia Pacific super bantamweight title. Both weighed in at 121.25 lbs.
Isaac ?Royal Storm? Dogboe (Ghana) and Julian Evaristo Aristule (Argentina) will dispute the vacant WBO International super bantamweight title. Both stepped on the scales at 120.75lbs.
The main supporting bout features Jeff ?The Hornet? Horn (Australia) vs. Ali ?Rush Hour? Funeka (South Africa) for Horn?s WBO Intercontinental welterweight title. Both were at 146.5 lbs.
There are three more undercard matches ? Junior Fa vs Pablo Magrini, John Parker vs Ash McConville, David Letele a.k.a. Brown Butterbean vs Che Barlow.
Duco Events, the New Zealand Promotional company staging this mega-fight, had two special guests during the weigh-in ? Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who turned 85 years young and world famous boxing commentator Colonel Bob Sheridan.
Photo - Andy Ruiz (white shirt) and Joseph Parker (red shirt) being interviewed after the official weigh-in held at the Britomart Country Cub in Auckland, New Zealand.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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